REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Transcription

1 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS For a Creative, Interactive Interpretive Installation Town of Vail Environmental Sustainability Programs BACKGROUND In 2012, Gore Creek was listed as an impaired waterway by the Colorado Department of Health and the Environment (CDPHE). The Town of Vail undertook a comprehensive study of the causes of Gore Creek s declining macroinvertebrate populations and, in 2015, adopted the Gore Creek Strategic Action Plan. Due to the non-point source nature of the pollutants impacting Gore Creek, the plan identified Education and Outreach as a key strategy to raising awareness and fostering community engagement to restore Gore Creek. The Town has developed educational programing, advertisements and videos and hosted events to spread the message in the community that all residents and guests need to work together to Restore the Gore. The Town of Vail is now seeking to expand its Gore Creek Education and Outreach programs and reach new audiences through an interpretive walk along Gore Valley Trail, the bike and walking trail that parallels Gore Creek. OPPORTUNITY The Town of Vail is seeking a qualified firm to develop a creative and interactive interpretive installation or program along the Gore Valley Trail. Campaign Goals 1. Raise community awareness of the importance of riparian habitat through interactive exhibits and media. 2. Engage trail users and educate them about macroinvertebrates, aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. 3. Communicate how community members can do their part to Restore the Gore. 4. Draw the attention of trail users to the riverine and riparian ecosystems that the Gore Valley Trail meanders through and educate them about the importance of these ecosystems. 5. Reach a new audience of 50,000 trail users each summer. SCOPE OF WORK Core Messaging The Town of Vail seeks to raise awareness of Gore Creek s decline, emphasize the important role Gore Creek plays in the local ecosystem and community, and inspire community members to get involved in the effort to restore Gore Creek. 1

2 o Develop a creative and engaging way to educate trail users about the issues facing Gore Creek and its tributaries. o Raise awareness of the important role wetlands, rivers, creeks and riparian areas play in the life cycles of many Colorado species. o Inspire appreciation for little known or under-appreciated species and the important, outsized role they play in the Gore Creek ecosystem. Targeted Interpretation Location Specific The educational message and approach will need to be tailored to each segment of the trail and educate trail users about aspects of the creek and surrounding ecosystems that they can see and appreciate from that place on the trail. o Find creative ways to draw the attention of trail users to scenery and habitats that they may otherwise have overlooked. o Use the natural features along the Gore Valley Trail as a teaching tool. Content Development The selected firm will work closely with the town s environmental sustainability staff to identify topics that meet the goals of the Gore Creek Education and Outreach Program. o Develop educational content that raises awareness of Gore Creek s impairment, the importance of riparian habitat, fosters appreciation for riverine and riparian ecosystems and offers tools to take action. o Use creative, interactive methods to distribute the core message and content. Interpretive Walk Over one thousand people travel on the Gore Valley Trail every day in the summer. Users include biker, hikers, anglers, families and dog walkers. The Town of Vail seeks to engage these trail users through a unique interpretive program. The Town is NOT seeking an installation of simple, traditional interpretive panels. This RFP should be viewed as a call for creative firms to develop a new and original program to engage and educate trail users in Vail, Colorado. Proposals which identify unique and original methods to draw attention to Gore Creek s exceptional features and habitat will have the highest chance of selection. Multimedia and other nontraditional approaches to interpretation are encouraged. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS 1) Statement of Qualifications: statement covering resources, expertise, client list and references. If a team, partnering firm or organization is proposed, include background information on all participating members. Include standard billing rate(s) range. 2) Relevant Work Experience: examples of previous work relevant to environmental sustainability. Detail specific case studies that demonstrate abilities in these areas and approximate cost range. 2

3 3) Approach to Scope of Work: indicate the style or approach intended to develop the messaging strategy and to accomplish the goals listed. SELECTION CRITERIA The successful candidate will provide examples and demonstrate the ability to: o Manage expenses to approved budgets, demonstrate accountability and meet deadlines o Establish positive working relationships with stakeholders o Be resourceful, flexible, dedicated and results-oriented o Bring creative solutions to the project and to problem solving o Communicate a positive message to a diverse audience with varying interests o Capitalize on the natural features of Gore Creek and its surrounding in developing educational content TIMELINE RFQ Question and Answer Period Submit questions via to pwadden@vailgov.com February 13-23, 2018 RFQ Due Date March 2, 2018 Candidate Selection Process Narrow results to maximum of 3 firms, conduct interviews on March 5 and 6 March 5-9, 2018 Contract Award March 12, 2018 * The Town of Vail expects that the majority of the education and outreach strategy development and materials will be completed during the spring of However, the Town requests that submitting firms be open to including additional billable hours, or time and materials for mid-campaign content needs and strategy changes until the end of CONTACT AND SUBMITTAL Responses are due by 5 PM MST no later than Friday, March 2, All responses will be submitted via to pwadden@vailgov.com. Inquiries should be directed to: Pete Wadden, Watershed Education Coordinator Town of Vail, Community Development Department pwadden@vailgov.com 3

4 General Information Limitations and Award This RFP does not commit the Town of Vail to award or contract, nor to pay any costs incurred, in the preparation and submission of proposals in anticipation of a contract. The Town of Vail reserves the right to reject all or any submittal received as a result of this request, to negotiate with all qualified sources, or to cancel all or part of the RFP. After a priority listing of the final firms is established, the Town of Vail will negotiate a contract with the first priority firm. If negotiations cannot be successfully completed with the first priority firm, negotiations will be formally terminated and will be initiated with the second most qualified firm and, likewise, with the remaining firms. Selection Initial evaluation will be based upon the qualifications of the applicant. The Town of Vail reserves the right to waive interviews, and to make its final selection based solely upon the qualification statements and evaluation criteria. Equal Employment Opportunity The selected consultant team will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Contract Phasing Proposed tasks within this RFP may be eliminated or expanded by the Town of Vail at any time due to the progression and sequencing of the scope of work. The contract for professional services will be adjusted accordingly. Prohibition Against Employing Illegal Aliens. Pursuant to Section , C.R.S., et. seq., Contractor warrants, represents, acknowledges, and agrees that: 1. Contractor does not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien; 2. Contractor shall not enter into a contract with a subcontractor that fails to certify to Contractor that the subcontractor shall not knowingly employ or contract with an illegal alien; 3. Contractor has verified or attempted to verify through participation in the basic pilot employment verification program created in Public Law 208, 104th Congress, as amended, and expanded in Public Law 156, 108th Congress, as amended, administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security (the Basic Pilot Program ) that Contractor does not employ any illegal aliens. If Contractor is not accepted into the Basic Pilot Program prior to entering into this Agreement, Contractor shall forthwith apply to participate in the Basic Pilot Program and shall submit to the Town written verification of such application within five (5) days of the date of this Agreement. Contractor shall continue to apply to participate in the Basic Pilot Program, and shall verify such application to the Town in writing, every three (3) months until Contractor is accepted or this Agreement is completed, whichever occurs first. This subparagraph 3 shall be null and void if the Basic Pilot Program is discontinued; 4. Contractor shall not use the Basic Pilot Program procedures to undertake preemployment screening of job applicants while this Agreement is being performed; 5. If Contractor obtains actual knowledge that a subcontractor performing work under this Agreement knowingly employs or contracts with an illegal alien, Contractor shall notify such subcontractor and the Town within three (3) days that Contractor has actual knowledge that the subcontractor is employing or contracting with an illegal alien, and shall terminate the subcontract with the subcontractor if within three (3) days of receiving the notice required pursuant to 4

5 this subsection the subcontractor does not cease employing or contracting with the illegal alien, except that Contractor shall not terminate the contract with the subcontractor if during such three (3) days the subcontractor provides information to establish that the subcontractor has not knowingly employed or contracted with an illegal alien; 6. Contractor shall comply with any reasonable request by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (the Department ) made in the course of an investigation that the Department undertakes or is undertaking pursuant to the authority established in subsection (5), C.R.S; and 7. If Contractor violates any provision of this Agreement pertaining to the duties imposed by subsection , C.R.S. the Town may terminate this Agreement and Contractor shall be liable for actual and consequential damages to the Town arising out of said violation. 5